Einstein and Glass on stage
Philip Glass (b. 1937) Cadenza and Dance 2, from Einstein on the Beach Philip Glass Ensemble; Michael Riesman, cond. Nonesuch 79323
John Birge
YourClassical MPR
Composers Datebook®
Reminding you that all music was once new ® • with host John Birge
The birth of "Les Six"
Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) Violin Sonata No. 1 Renate Eggebrecht, violin; Angela Gassenhuber, piano Troubadisc 1406
A Messiaen premiere in a German prisoner of war camp
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) Quartet for the End of Time Tashi RCA/BMG 7835
Harp concertos by Villa-Lobos and Rautavaara
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 - 1959) Harp Concerto Catherine Michel, harp; Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra; Antonio de Almeida, cond. Philips 462 179 Einojuhani Rautavaraa (1928 - 2016) Harp Concerto Marielle Nordmann, harp; Helsinki Philharmonic; Leif Segerstam, cond. Ondine 978
Prokofiev takes the Fifth in Moscow
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Symphony No. 5 in Bb, Op. 100 St. Petersburg Philharmonic; Yuri Temirkanov, cond. RCA/BMG 60984
Dvořák's "American" Quintet
Antonin Dvořák (1841 - 1904) String Quintet in Eb, Op. 97 Smetana Quartet; Josef Suk, vla Denon 72507
A John Adams Christmas oratorio
John Adams (b. 1947) excerpts from El Niño soloists; Kent Nagano, cond. Nonesuch 79634
A Kernis premiere wins the Pulitzer
Aaron Jay Kernis (b. 1960) String Quartet No. 2 (musica instrumentalis) The Lark Quartet Arabesque 6727
Opposite-coast bouquets and brickbats for Weill and Sessions
Roger Sessions (1896-1985) Symphony No. 2 San Francisco Symphony; Herbert Blomstedt, cond London 443 376 Kurt Weill (1900-1950) Act 1 Intro, from Street Scene Scottish Opera Orchestra; John Mauceri, cond. London 433 371
Fateful anniversaries for Lully and Shostakovich
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) Galliarde, from Trios pour le coucher du Roi Chicago Baroque Ensemble Cedille 043 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) Symphony No. 15 in A, Op. 141 London Symphony; Maxim Shostakovich, cond. Collins 1206
About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.